Sydney’s second airport lands its first passenger trial flight ahead of a 25 October opening

What happened

On Tuesday 1 September 2026 a Jetstar Airbus A320 landed at Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport at about 9:30 am and departed at about 3:20 pm, according to Airservices Australia, as part of operational readiness testing of the new passenger terminal. Volunteer passengers tested self check-in, bag drop, security screening with extended lanes and body scanners, aerobridges, refuelling and baggage handling.

Australia’s infrastructure minister Catherine King said it was the first time a Jetstar passenger plane had come in to land at the new airport. Matt Duffy, the airport’s chief operating officer, said thousands of volunteers were expected to take part in trials before opening. Commercial passenger services begin on 25 October 2026, with Jetstar’s inaugural flight to the Gold Coast.

What it means for Indian travellers

From late October, Sydney has two airports: Kingsford Smith, close to the city and the harbour, and Western Sydney International at Badgerys Creek, about 45 kilometres west. International flights from India will continue to arrive at Kingsford Smith for now; the practical point for anyone planning Australia over December and January is to check which Sydney airport a domestic connection or a low-cost leg departs from, because a transfer between the two is a road journey, not a terminal change.

Airport World notes the trial flight came 54 days before opening. We will update this article when the first international carriers at the new airport are confirmed.

Sources

This report is based on the following published sources. Rules and schedules change — confirm with the issuing authority before you travel.

• Upcoming test flight for passenger operations — Airservices Australia
• Trial Jetstar passenger flight handled at Western Sydney — Airport World, 01 September 2026